THE MAYORAL ELECTION.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1493, 28 November 1878, Page 2

THE MAYORAL ELECTION.

* RETURN OF COUNCILLOR ICK. At twelve o’clock noon to-day Mr GL L. Le, the returning ojllccr, announced the milt of the polling for the elestion of a My or of Chriatchurch Lw the ensuing year. Aconsiderable crowd was congregated in front 0 the City Council Chamber. The numbers, tie announcement of which was received with lead, cheers, were as follows : C. T. lek 601 Henry Thomson 313 Majority for Ick ... 258 1 therefore became his (the returning ollicer’s) dty to declare Mr C. T. Ick duly elected as layer of Christchurch for the ensuing year. [Loud cheers.] The Mayor-elect then addressing the lectors said —Mr Returning Ollieer and (How-ratepayers—Will you allow me to Hum to you my very grateful thanks for the jroud ppeitipn in which you have placed mo his dav by returning me at the top of the pH. [Cheers.] I look upon this as a vindcalion of the fact that old pprvauts will not b forgotten by you, but that they will meet with their due reward. [Applause.] it yill pel. become me as the successful candidate to saj one word in disparagement of rny opponent, nor do J intend to do bo. Neither do I

intend to charge him with being the author of any of the squibs which have been put forth with the idea of doing me injury, but which I am sure have been the means of doing me a great deal of good in a political sense. [Loud cheers.] I flatter myself that lam too well known in Christchurch and its neighbourhood for anything that is paid or writ,ten of mo for any political purpose, can do me any injury, and the result of the election has proved t.hat this is so. I l=>ok upon the authors of such squibs [as my best political friends. [Cheers.] I have always thought that any British subject when systematically abused with a political view to serve private purposes will meet with the sympathy and support of a British public, and so you have proved it with me on this occasion. [Cheers.] I shall go into the Council as its Mayor perfectly unfettered and perfectly impartial, without fear and without favour, and swayed by no one. A voice What do you think of that, Briggs ? Mr Ick continued —I am very proud to think that I have the Council at my back as my friends. It has always been my policy to support any good measures, and before the expiration of my term of office, it will be found that I have worked at a few such measures, efficiently carrying them out to a successful isßue rather than tinkering at a lot that the city will be unable to undertake. [Cheers.] A voice—l hope you will get rid of the snarling club. [Laughter.] Mr Ick —With reference to any future works that may be undertaken, I need scarcely say that I regard the water supply scheme as one of the very greatest importance, or that I shall support it most thoroughly, though before it can be carried out it will have to receive the approbation of the ratepayers. The clause in the Act which relegates such matters to the ratepayers is a very saving one, and gives the public an opportunity not only of expressing their opinion on such subjects but also of absolutely vetoing any action of the Council. [A Toice—" Morton' i corner, to wit."] I also regard as of very great importance the erection of suitable buildings for City Council offices. For my own part, and I have no doubt the part of many others, we can only look upon this ram shackle place behind us with disgust. [Cheers.] With the great improvements that have been made in Christchurch of late it is surely time that we had some better City Council Chambers. [Applause.] With regard to the mode of conducting the business of the Council, I think my long experience with that body will ensure its being conducted iu a proper manner. [Cheers.] Q-entlemen, Ido not intend to say much more. I shall, to the best of my ability, carry ont the duties of your mayor in an efficient manner. I can say no more, and I trust to you to appreciate my conduct if worthy of it. [Applause.] I have not much to recommend me. I am a plaiu man of business, as my father was before me. I again thank you for the proud position in which you have placed me to-day, in returning me with a larger majority than that which any other Mayor has ever had. [Applauße.] A Ratepayer—Barring Grapes.

Mr Thomson then addressed the ratepayers. He said —Mr Returning Officer and G-entlemen: It is not necessary tor a defeated candidate to make a very long speech, and I should best consult you and myself, at this time of the day, by making it as short as possible. To those who voted for me I tender my very warmest thanks, and to those who voted against me, I can assure them I bear them no animosity. Some of them are my very warmest friends who voted for my opponent from a pure feeling of conscientiousness, for which I am sure no man can blame them. [Applause.] But there is one thing I would like to say, and it is just this, I absolve my opponent from any knowledge or complicity whatever with the squibs which have appeared about me, and which I thoroughly believe were issued without his sanction or concurrence. I have now been five times before the public, and I will say this—that I never wrote one line which might reflect in any way against any person who had put up against me. If my own merits were not sufficient to obtain me the position I desired, I woull not obtain it by abusing the other side. [Cheers.] There is just one more thing I wish to mention. In any of the elections in which I have been concerned, I have never had scrutineers, but have placed my entire confidence in the integrity of Mr Gh L. Lee, the returning officer, and eo long as that gentleman held the post I would always place my trust in his honor. I feel bound to make these remarks in consequence of an aspersion which has been cast upon that gentleman. lam quite sure that any observations that were made were not intended to bear the construction that were placed upon them. I have, therefore, great pleasure in bearing my testimony and in recording our faith in his confidence, and I now ask you to pass a most cordial vote of thanks to him for the impartial manner in which he has conducted this election. [Cheers.] The Mayor elect—l have great pleasure in eeconding the motion, and at the same time recording my entire confidence in Mr Lee, and I would not for one mement wish it to go forth to the public that there was the slightest suspicion reflected upon that gentleman by any one. lam sure we all feel that he has done his duty, and will press the motion which I now second with the greatest unanimity. [Cheers.] The Returning Officer, in replying, said— Mr Mayor and Mayor elect, I have to thank you for the way in which you have brought the proposal of thanks forward, and the way it has been received by the ratepayers. I can only say that I don't imagine the remarks to which allusion has been made referred to me at all.

Cr. Grapes —Not in the slightest degree. The .Returning Officer—l have conducted many elections in this place, and also in other parts of the province, and I don't think I have ever had any one cavil at rny actions. [Cheers.] I mu<>t say that even if there had been some little irregularities upon this occasion it would have been excusable could even the very great difficulty of conducting the business of an election in so cramped a epaco have been overcome. There is no room whatever for the supervision which is so requisite upon euch occasions. lam glad to hear from the Mayor-elect that it is his intention to provide for belter accommodation for the City Council business, and I trust that before the next election such accommodation will be completed. This concluded the proceedings, and tho crowd dispersed.